Rory McIlroy believes the PGA Tour does not necessarily need to strike a deal with the PIF and says that a deal does not feel close despite US President Donald Trump’s heavy involvement in talks.
Television ratings have been good for the PGA Tour this season while the TGL has been deemed a success in its first season. McIlroy feels the PGA Tour has so much momentum on its side that it might not even need to strike a deal with LIV Golf although he would love to see the best players in the world playing together on a more regular basis.
“I think the narrative around golf, I wouldn’t say needs a deal, I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of just having all the best players together again,” said McIlroy ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “But I don’t think the PGA TOUR needs a deal. I think the momentum is pretty strong. As you say, TV’s been good, TGL’s been hopefully pretty additive to the overall situation.
“And yeah, I would say, you know, again, I answered this question at Torrey Pines two weeks ago, before, you know, the landscape might have looked a little different then than it does now over these past couple of weeks, and I think a deal would still be the ideal scenario for golf as a whole. But from a pure PGA TOUR perspective, I don’t think it, I don’t think it necessarily needs it.”
Discussions over a possible merger between the tours began in June 2023 while US President Trump has become a prominent figure over the last couple of mounts.
At last month’s Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods thought Trump would help heal the divide quickly while Paul McGinley was optimistic that a peace deal would be struck before the Masters next month.
However, McIlroy feels plans to unify the men’s professional game are still far away from coming to fruition.
“I think it takes two to tango. So if one party is willing and ready and the other isn’t, it sort of makes it tough. Their billion dollars would be nice too.
“I mean, like you could create exemption categories that you try to capture who you want to capture, you know, major winners in the last three years, plus player champions, I don’t know. But, yeah, that’s, again, I’m — not my department.
“I don’t think it’s ever felt that close, but I don’t, it doesn’t feel like it’s any closer.”
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